Page 141 of Chameleon Killer

A slow chill crawled across my shoulders. “I told Flint.”

Recently.

That wasn’t an answer, not really. It was so much worse. It implied—a lot of things I didn’t want to think about.

“How recently?”

My question remains unanswered.

I pushed back from the desk and stood. This time I did consider leaving. Not as a negotiating tactic. Actually leaving.

My chair rolled backward an inch when my knee bumped it.

The open door waited behind me.

Flint had told me if anything changed, I left. This qualified. Probably. Then again, the entire purpose of being here was to learn what the Auditor—Simon—knew.

Walking out because he knew too much seemed self-defeating. Dangerous logic, Mallory. Very dangerous.

I stared at the doorway for another moment before turning back. “You want an answer?”

Yes.

“Because it matters to the investigation?”

Perhaps.

“Then I get to know how you obtained the information.”

No.

I barked out a laugh without humor. “That’s bullshit.”

You may refuse.

Right. Our compromise. Damn him. I remained standing.

“Fine. I slept with Elliot because it was a bad decision.”

Incomplete.

“You are really testing the limits of our agreement.”

I asked why.

“And I answered.”

You labeled the choice. You did not explain it.

I crossed my arms. “Grief. Exhaustion. Adrenaline. Proximity. Pick one.”

Those are circumstances.

“You’re impossible.”

Not presently.

My mouth fell open. Then I laughed despite myself.